It Slipped Your Mind, That’s All

Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten our good friend Peter -

Peter! – who taught you to fight and to crow!

I never thought Peter would slip through your fingers;

But he has departed, with his shadow in tow.

Gone, then, is Alice, puzzled and sweet,

Dear Alice, who always did as she was told? -

I see in your eyes that you’ve forsaken Alice!

And her name in your heart is but distant and cold.

Where is your Sarah, who peeked over high walls?

And your Jack and your Polly, the names you once knew?

And Sam – how you loved Sam! For who wouldn’t love Sam? –

Brave, foolish Sam : is he now lost to you?

They say that you’ve grown up and forgotten to wonder;

That you’ve learned to do sums, wears suits, and earn bread.

Tell me : which do you read to your children, my dear –

Stock reports or the gas bill? – when you tuck them in bed?